Window cleaning chair



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. DORMITZER. WINDOW CLEANING CHAIR No. 244,203. Pa-tentedQJuly 12,1881,

WITNESSES: iNVENTORI A aQwfio/iim .14.

H ATTORNEYS.

No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A., DORMITZER. WINDOW CLEANING CHAIR.

"No. 244,203. Patented July 12, 1881. w 05 0 H I j H I?! la R 7] g1, g a? 4 g N 1 |H\\\ I W A N P a bl R %g Q Q R fi v b b M o Q E 9 k INVENTOE:

ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

ANNA DORMITZER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

WINDOW-CLEANING CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 244,203, dated July 12, 1881.

Application filed April 29, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANNA DORMITZER, of

the city, county, and State of New York, have' invented certain useful Improvements in Window-Oleaning Chairs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is designed as an improvement on the window-cleaning chair for which Letters Patent of the United States Nos. 200,441, 206,935, 206,936, and 219,234 were granted and issued to me, respectively, February 19 and August 13, 1878, and September 2, 1879, and its object is to further simplify the construction of the chair, and make it less expensive and more complete and durable.

The invention consists, in combination with the platform, folding guards, supports, steps, and braces, of improveddevices for securing the chair inposition on a window-sill, and in an open or folded condition, all of which will be hereinafter fully described.

Figure lis a perspective front elevation of the chair in position, with auxiliary step raised. Fig. 2 is a perspective rear elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the chair closed. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional side elevation of the chair in position. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the same, with auxiliary step raised and guards down, with parts broken away to exhibit other parts. Fig. 6 is a plan of the reverse of the chair, partly in section, on line :20 a, Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a portion of the chair closed. Fig. 8 is a cross-section on line y y, Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a detailed .section of parts of the device.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts.

In the drawings, A represents the chairplatform, of suitable size to sit or stand upon, provided with a raised strip, B, fastened along its rear edge, to serve as a partial support to the back guard, B, that is hinged on the face of the platform A between the side guards, O G, which are hinged on the upper edges of the side strips, 0 O, that are securely fastened on the edges of the said platform A. These side strips, 0 0, project below the platform A, thereby strengthening the chair and affording support or points of attachment for certain of the operatin g mechanical devices of said chair.

(No model.)

On the under side of the platform A, near its front end, is a cross-brace, D, which serves to strengthen the chair and to afford support for the swinging rectangular step-frame D, which is hinged thereto. Said frame D consists of two vertical parallel side bars, 0 0, securelyheld together at top and bottom by cross-bars c 0, while from the front of said bars 0 c, at their lower ends, are the projecting brackets c 0 supporting the fixed step E. On the rear faces of these bars 0 c are secured wedge-shaped blocks d d, faced with leather or other suitable soft material, that aredesigned to take against the inner face of the windowsill or wainsoot when the chair is in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the leather preventing the sill or Wainscot from becoming defaced. The side bars, 0 0, have their lower ends slotted, as shown at d, and in these slots d are pivoted the eccentrics E E, which are provided with handles d to operate them. These eccentrics E E are designed to press the springs E that are secured on the rear faces of the bars 0 0, against the Wainscot of the window when the chair is in position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, for the purpose of holding said chair more securely in place; and these springs ll have on their lower ends wedge-shaped leather-covered blocks (1", to prevent the defacement of the Wainscot and to afford a better hold thereon.

Projecting downward from the under side of the platform A, at the front thereof, between the upper ends of the frame side bars, 0 c, is a brace,F that assists in holding the saidfrarne D in an open vertical position by preventin git from swinging outward, the top cross-bar, 0, bearing outward against said brace F when the chairisin position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

Pivoted to the sides of the side bars, 0 0, near their tops, are the flat curved iron supports F, that carry the auxiliary step F, which swivels between their lower ends, and is held flat on the top of the fixed step E when desired, as shown in Fig.1, by a stud, f, which is attached on the end of a spring, f, secured on the under side of said step E, and which projects up through the center of said step E into a corresponding socket, f in the said step F. The supports F are stiffened by a connectingrod, f. This step F is also provided with two pivbe unfolded. It is designed to use this stepF only when the operator desires to reach the top of the window or window-frame.

In order to secure the chair in place on a window-sill, a strong clamping device, G, is arranged on the under side of the platform A.

This clamping device G consists of a flat bar or block, G, of wood or metal, adj ustably held in position by stout metal angle-rods k, that project from each end of the bar G up through longitudinal slots is in either side of the platform A, and through plates 7a, which are fastened over said slots k, and are each provided with one or more beveled-edged perforations, i, for the admission of said rods h, as shown in Figs. 4., 6, and 9, the beveled edges 13 of said perforations i being designed to engage in the teeth or serrations l of the rods h, and thereby serve to'assist in holding the clamping device Gin place. On the tops of said rods h caps h are screwed, to prevent the accidental disengagement of said rods h from the plates 7c, while by removing said caps if said rods h may be withdrawn for adjustment in any other of the perforations 6, whereby the clampingba-r G may be arranged at any desired distance from the step-frame D, according to the width of the window-sill to which the chair is to be applied. The front edge of this bar G is designed to be covered with leather or other suitable material, to prevent defacement of the window sill or frame. To the curved or concave upper edge of this bar G are secured springs m, whose free ends bear against the platform A, and thereby hold said bar G from contact with said platform A, and at the same time give said bar G some elasticity of movement when being adjusted.

A stout thumb-screw, H, is passed from the front rearward through the brace F and has its extremity journaled in a suitable hanger, m, depending from the platform A, immediately above the clamping-bar G, and on this screw H is a traveling nut, H, from which there project or radiate rearward through the bar G two bars, a n, to connect said bar G and nut H. These bars a n are pivoted in the nut H, so as to move in vertical planes and incline downward as well as rearward, to enter the bar G, where they are secured by a bolt, a, passing through their eyes, so that when the screw H is turned in one direction, by application of the hand to the thumb-piece O, the clamping-bar G is inclined with its lower edge forward, with all necessary force, against the outside of the window-sill cap M, so that the said cap M is clamped firmly between the frame D and the clamping-bar G, and thewindow-cleanin gchair thereby held in position, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4. By turning the screw H in the opposite direction the lower edge of the clamping-bar G is carried rearward, so that the chair may be removed from its position in the window.

As a further security for the chair when in position for use, and to afford it the desired support rearward, the straight bars or supports P are pivoted at one end, so as to move in vertical planes on the inner face of each side strip, 0 O, and when not in use are held up in position shown in Figs. 6 and 7 by means of springs p, whose free ends bear against the pivoted ends of said supports P. The upper edges of these supports P are toothed, as shown at p and are designed for th e en gagemen t therein of the an gle-dogs S, that are journaled in the said side strips, 0 G, in such a manner that they may be turned so as to force and hold said supports 1? down upon the outer edge of the window-sill M, thereby assuring the perfect security and stability of the chair.

When the chair is in position in a window the back and side guards are elevated and secured, as hereinbefore described, and a pail, V, for containing water for the window-cleaning, is secured by a nib upon it in the loop a, that also serves as a catch for the button or hook I) on the opposite guard when the chair is closed. A standard, W, is also set in a socket, 0 on the edge of the chair, and is provided with a support, 0 from which may be suspended a bucket or other vessel for the convenience of the person at Work upon a window. Should it be desirable for the operator to reach higher than is possible from the platform A itself, the auxiliary step F may he raised to the position shown or indicated in Figs. 1, 4., and 5, and may be so secured by the insertion of its legs 9 g in the sockets 01* made in the face of the platform A,'and by plate-hooks s, that are pivoted on the said platform A, and are caught about the supports F.

In order to hold the step-frame D, when open, down at right angles to the platform A, a spring, T, provided with a stud, t, is secured in an end of the brace F which stud t engages in a corresponding socketed plate, t, on the inside of a side bar, 0.

When not in use this chair may be folded in small space, as shown in Figs. 3 and 7, and the step-frame D be held closed to the platform A by a similar studded spring, T, secured on a side bar, 0, and having its stud it entered into a corresponding socket-plate, t, secured on an opposite side strip, 0.

This chair is inexpensive to construct, light, durable, strong, and secure.

I do not confine myself to the precise construction of the window-cleaningchair as herein shown and described, as it is manifest that it may be modified in various ways without departing from my invention.

In some instances the guards may be dispensed with and the chair be used as a simple window-j ack, two of which would suflice to support a platform for painters or others at work on the outside of a house.

The step-frame also may be removed when the chair is designed to be applied to windows having sills but a little above the floor of the room, and in such case the front bar, through which the screw of the clamping device passes, may be correspondingly increased in thickness.

This chair can also be used as an adjustable removable balcony, and be provided with suitable awning standards or frame and awning, without departing in any essential point from my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a window-cleaning chair, the combination, with the platform A and step-frame D, of the clamping device Gr, consisting of clamping-bar G, swinging on rods h, thumb-screw H, journaled in hanger m and carrying traveling nut H, provided with bars 02 n, and connected with block G, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby said chair may be secured in position, as set forth.

2. In a window-cleanin g chair, the clamping device G, consisting of the bar G, with attached serrated angle-rods h, having caps h, springs m, and screw H, provided with nut H, having bars at n, arranged and operating substantially as herein shown and described.

3. In a window-cleaning chair, the combination, with the platform A and clamping device G, of the slotted plates 70, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the said device may be adjusted, as set forth.

4. In a window-cleaning chair, the combination with theplatform A, of the pivoted toothed bars I? and dogs S, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby additional security and stability is given to the chair when in use, as set forth.

5. In a window-cleaning chair, the combination, with the platform A and swinging stepframe D, of the studded springs T and socketed plates t, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the frame is held open or closed, as may be desired, as set forth.

ANNA DORMITZER.

Witnesses:

I. I. STORER, G. SEDGWICK. 

